Medical Administrative Assistant

As a Medical Administrative Assistant student you will learn the medical, business, technology, and communications skills needed to work in a private physician’s office, specialty clinic, or hospital setting. You will study medical terminology, body systems, medical insurance and medical office procedures. In addition, you will develop the interpersonal skills, organizational effectiveness, and communication skills necessary to function in a medical environment.

Earn University of Alaska college credits (depending on
coursework completed) while attending AVTEC.

Computer operations are a major part of the Medical
Administrative Assistant program. Students learn to operate computers in a
modern computer lab using a variety of software to become a productive user of
computer hardware, software, networks, and the Internet. Training software
includes Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Microsoft Windows and
Internet Explorer, Medisoft, and SpringCharts. Students are taught by Microsoft
Office Specialist Instructors using the curriculum designed for Microsoft Office
Specialist (MOS) certification.

Medical Administrative Assistant Courses

In addition to the courses required for the Office Assistant program, the
Medical Administrative Assistant program focuses on these specialized advanced
business office skills:

Law, Ethics, and HIPAA (Contact hours: 30)
This course will provide an overview of the laws and ethics needed to provide
patients with competent care that is also within acceptable legal and ethical
boundaries, and the foundational concepts and knowledge that allied health
workers must understand to correctly handle patients’ protected health
information (PHI) and to comply with all HIPAA regulations.

Medical Billing (Contact hours: 100)
Upon completion of this course, the student will learn the role and
responsibility of a medical biller, the different types of common health
insurance forms, resources available for the medical biller, and the difference
in processes and procedures of billing for services in different medical
settings, as well as denial and appeal procedures.

The International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision,
Clinical Modification
(ICD-9-CM)

Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)

Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System manuals

Electronic Health Records (EHR) (Contact hours: 90)
Upon completion of this course, the student will have the understanding and
practical knowledge of electronic health records which is essential to all
medical professionals and support staff entering the workforce. The software
used in this course is SpringCharts.

Computers in the Medical Office (Contact hours: 90)
Upon completion of this course, the student will learn the medical billing cycle
and the role that computers play in that cycle. The course will also cover the
use of health information technology, electronic health records, HIPAA, and the
HITECH Act. The software used in this course is Medisoft.

Industry Certifications
In addition to the Accounting Specialist certificate, students can also
prepare for and earn the following industry certifications:

Mission

To provide students with the technical office skills and professional work habits for career success in today's business and industry. The Medical Administrative Assistant program is committed to producing well-qualified employees for Alaska's medical offices, to providing a professional learning environment, and to meeting the needs of Alaska's diverse multicultural communities.

Length of Course

1,246 clock hours, 178 training days

Enrollment

August and January

Training Hours

8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Prerequisites

Contact the Admissions Office at 1-800-478-5389 for program entrance information and testing requirements. Physical requirements of the occupation are good eyesight, finger coordination, and the ability to sit for one to two hours.